In the one adjoining theirs were a lady and gentleman who had been at Mr.and Mrs.
Birtwell's party, and who drove up in a carriage just as the general and Mrs.Abercrombie, white with snow, came to the door.

They entered together, the lady expressing surprise at their appearance, at which the general growled some incoherent sentences and strode away from them and up the stairs, Mrs.Abercrombie following close after him.
"There's something wrong, I'm afraid," said the gentleman, whose name was Craig, as he and his wife gained their own room.

"They went in a carriage, I know.

What can it mean ?" "I hope the general has not been drinking too much," remarked the wife.
"I'm afraid he has.

He used to be very intemperate, I've heard, but reformed a year or two ago, A man with any weakness in this direction would be in danger at an entertainment such as Mr.and Mrs.Birtwell gave to-night." "I saw the general taking wine with a lady," said Mrs.Craig.
"If he took one glass, he would hardly set that as a limit.